Maggie Gardiner, forensics expert for the Cleveland police department, and Jack Renner, a homicide detective with a killer secret, confront the darkest threat yet to their careers—and their lives.
The body of fifteen-year-old Rachael Donahue—raised in foster homes and violently unapproachable—has been discovered at the bottom of a stairwell at Firebird, the secure facility for juvenile offenders. The girl’s death comes with a disturbing twist—she may have been involved with a much older man. But Rachael’s not the only resident to come to a dead end.
Firebird’s ten-year-old “wild child” has overdosed in the infirmary—back-to-back tragedies that appear to be terrible accidents. But Maggie and Jack suspect a cold-blooded murderer with an agenda. And as Maggie’s ex-husband gets nearer to uncovering secrets that Maggie and Jack must hide, it becomes increasingly hard for them to protect a new and vulnerable victim . . .
Praise for Lisa Black and Her Gardiner and Renner Thrillers
“Black keeps the suspense high throughout.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Well-plotted and paced . . . with a pair of intriguing protagonists.”
—Booklist
“Lisa Black always delivers.”
—Jeff Lindsay, creator of the DEXTER series
“One of the best storytellers around.”
—Tess Gerritsen
“An absolute must read.”
—Suspense Magazine
